Exsys CORVID

Category Intelligent Software>Expert (Knowledge Based)
Systems/Tools

Abstract Exsys CORVID is a knowledge automation expert
(knowledge based) system development tool. Product provides an
advanced environment to develop Knowledge Automation Expert
Systems. It allows the logical rules and procedural steps used by an
expert to make a decision, to be efficiently stated in a form that is easy
to read, understand and maintain. In an interactive session delivered
over the Web, the underlying Inference Engine uses the problem-
solving logic to emulate the questions, process, and
recommendations of domain experts. People interact with the system
as if they were talking to the expert. CORVID developed systems
produce situation-specific recommendations, and can provide
problem solving advice on a wide range of subjects.

Product features include:

Easy to Learn Developer Interface - CORVID is aimed at developers
that have the expert knowledge, but are Not programmers or IT
professionals. A tutorial, which can be run in a few hours, is enough to
get started, and a 3-day training class covers all software features. The
decision-making logic is stated in If/Then rules, in much the same way
as explaining to another person how to make the decision. The rules
are written in English and algebra, making them easy to read,
understand and maintain. CORVID provides tree structures to organize
related rules, and Logic Blocks to organize related trees.

Object Structured - CORVID uses an “object-structure” approach to
system design. Rules are defined using various types of variables that
have associated methods and properties. Many of the advantages of a
full object-oriented (OO) approach are provided without having to
understand complex OO programming, or describing a solution with
OO classes. This is similar to the concept used in Visual Basic, which
has made it so popular, widely used and accepted.

Powerful Inference Engine - The CORVID Inference Engine runs the
rules. It supports both backward (goal driven) and forward (data driven)
chaining, or combinations of the two approaches. Backward chaining
makes it particularly easy to build systems. If a system has a rule
relevant to the current goal or variable, it will automatically be found
and used by the system. All the developer has to do is add the rule(s)
anywhere in the system. Questions will be "focused", only asking what
is needed, yet never overlooking anything that might be relevant.
Probabilistic logic ("fuzzy logic") is supported with many ways to
combine confidence factors, allowing systems to find the "best"
solution, and probabilistically rank multiple possible solutions.
Collection variables provide a way to dynamically build reports, web
pages and emails as the rules in a system fire.

Product components include:

Variables - Variables are the building blocks that are used to develop
systems. They resemble the elements needed in a decision-making
process. They define the logic, hold data and define how the system
runs. CORVID has seven variable types, each with special functionality
and capability.

Confidence Factors - Variables can have specified confidence factors.
This enables expert systems to make multiple recommendations with
differing degrees of confidence to reach a "best fit" in its conclusion.
The ability to handle confidence factors provides a much more effective
way to build systems that emulate the real world, and give the type of
recommendations that human experts would.

Logic Blocks - CORVID introduces a unique way to define, organize
and structure rules into logically related blocks. The Logic Block is
made up of one or more tree structured logic diagrams. The rules in
the Logic Block usually all relate to one aspect of the decision, and can
be referenced in the system by simply calling that block.

Command Blocks - Command Blocks tell the system what actions to
take, and in what order to perform actions. They control the procedural
flow of the system including setting what variables are the “goals” of
the session, how the system chains, the Logic Blocks to be executed,
how results will be displayed, and external interfaces.

MetaBlocks for Selection Systems – ‘Product selection’ problems call
for finding the best product to recommend to a potential customer
based on their wants and requirements. Often, No single product will
meet all requirements. An Exsys CORVID system will find the "best" fit
and provide an explanation to the customer on how each product
meets their needs. It provides special features for this type of system
that allow the selection logic to be separated from product
specifications, which are maintained and updated in a simple
spreadsheet format. Systems results can be linked to additional
information or directly to purchasing functions.

Cross-Platform Java-based Web Deployment - The systems built with
this product can be delivered over the Web via either the CORVID
Applet Runtime (client-side), or CORVID Servlet Runtime (server-side).
Both runtime programs are based on Java. People interact with the
system by answering questions. Based on their input and the system's
logic, it will ask more questions - drilling down where necessary and
skipping questions that are Not needed. A system may only ask a few
questions, or many, it all depends on the complexity of the problems.
Once the system has fully analyzed the system user's situation, it will
provide its conclusions and recommendations.

CORVID systems can be run from a standard Browser and can be
integrated into existing Web sites. Systems using the Applet Runtime
run client-side or standalone can be embedded in a Web page.
Systems using the Servlet Runtime reside on the server, can match
the look and feel of existing Web sites, and only send HyperText
Markup Language (HTML) forms to the client machine. CORVID
systems can be run from Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mini-
browsers in some cell phones.

User Interface Design and Control - In the Applet Runtime, screen
commands allow formatting of questions and results. In the Servlet
Runtime, the full design and functionality of HTML can be used for
interface design. Editable HTML templates make it easy to quickly
design a consistent, professional interface. Links within a system can
be used to provide help, or more detailed explanations. Product offers
built-in capabilities allowing a single system to be run in multiple
languages.

Open Architecture and Application Programming interface (API) - User
defined functions and capabilities can be added to the CORVID
Runtimes by adding new Java classes to the Inference Engine. This
allows you to add special interfaces or mathematical techniques not
built into CORVID. A built-in API allows your code to access any of the
data in the system. CORVID can be integrated into the most
specialized environments in ways that you can control.

System Run and Trace during Development - Both Applet and Servlet
interfaces can be tested when a CORVID system is run in the
development environment. For applets, the CORVID editor dynamically
builds an HTML page. This allows the system to be run in the same
environment as on the Web, and it enables the developer to test the
system as it is being built. The Servlet delivery mode can be emulated
even when there is no server to test on. The development tool can
build the same HTML screens that the servlet will use, allowing a
system to be tested with the templates that will be used to field it on
the server. If a system is to be run stand-alone as an application, it can
also be tested in that mode.

System Requirements

Java-based web. Per the above description,
CORVID systems can be run from a standard Browser and can be
integrated into existing Web sites. Systems using the Applet Runtime
run client-side or standalone can be embedded in a Web page.
Systems using the Servlet Runtime reside on the server, can match
the look and feel of existing Web sites, and only send HyperText
Markup Language (HTML) forms to the client machine. CORVID
systems can be run from Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mini-
browsers in some cell phones.